PhD researcher

Email: D22128254@mytudublin.ie

Eavan is a highly specialised occupational therapist working within the field of paediatrics for almost 15 years. Eavan’s clinical expertise lies within child development and childhood disability. Fascinated with neuroscience and driven by the principles of early intervention, Eavan is a passionate advocate for "Prevention rather than cure". 

As a parent, Eavan is living, breathing and navigating the day-to-day challenges of parenting young children growing up in a digital world. Children being born into current society do not know a world without technology. "Screen time" is a highly contentious and indeed polarising topic in the parenting world, and in the wider world of education and social care. The rise in children's use of technology has led to growing concern about how it affects children's brains, bodies and their socio-emotional, cognitive and physical development. However, the debate over whether exposure to screen media has any impact on child development and, if so, the nature of this impact, is unresolved despite decades of research. We know how formative the early years are in terms of brain development and shaping future developmental trajectories. The statistics of sedentary behaviour, obesity levels, and low levels of fundamental movement skills proficiency among Irish children are alarming. However, we also know that children have the right to participate in the digital world and are naturally drawn to digital devices as 'play choices'. So how do we strike a balance to ensure optimal development? 

Eavan's PhD research "DigiTots" seeks to narrow this gap in the research and proposes to provide clarification around the modern-day parental dilemma that is 'screen time'. 

DigiTots seeks to examine the digital landscape amongst Irish preschool children. Specifically, it will look at the impact of digital devices on their motor and cognitive development, and it will explore the perceptions, practices, and challenges of parents of young children regarding digital device use. This is an area where there is urgent need for robust research to guide practice and policy. There is no current Irish policy or guidelines within this area. Many of the international guidelines and recommendations are outdated, unrealistic and unachievable for parents, DigiTots aims to assist with educating parents on best practice engagement with digital device use and to assist with informing national and local guidelines and recommendations for our parents and caregivers within this digital era.